Page 16 - Supreme Court

SC refers to larger bench on parity between AYUSH, allopathic doctors

The Supreme Court has referred to a larger bench the question whether doctors practising indigenous medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, homeopathy can be treated on par with "allopathic" doctors for determining service conditions, retirement age, and pay scales. On May 13, a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran reserved its order on the pleas seeking answer to whether there can be a different age of superannuation for doctors practising modern medicine from the practitioners of AYUSH in government hospitals and clinics. In an order delivered on October 17, the bench said "there is divergence of opinion" on whether doctors of the two systems can be treated equally for service benefits and hence, the issue required an authoritative pronouncement. The term 'allopathy' was coined by the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, who used it to disparage the mainstream medicine system prevailing then. The court noted that earlier decisions had taken .

SC terms pendency of 882K execution pleas 'highly disappointing, alarming'

The Supreme Court has termed as "highly disappointing" and "alarming" the pendency of over 8.82 lakh execution petitions before different courts across the country. Execution petitions are the pleas filed by a decree holder seeking enforcement of court orders passed in a civil dispute. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal made the remarks while reviewing the compliance of its March 6 order that had directed all high courts to instruct civil courts within their jurisdiction to decide execution petitions within six months. The court had also made it clear that presiding officers would be held liable for any delay in presiding with its directive. "The statistics which we have received are highly disappointing. The figures of the pendency of the execution petitions across the country are alarming. As on date, 8,82,578 execution petitions are pending across the country," the bench said. The bench said in the last six months from March 6, a total of 3,38,685 execution ...

From firecrackers to green crackers: How rules changed festive supply chain

India's fireworks economy has undergone a significant transformation over the years, shaped by stringent pollution regulations and local bans

Risdiplam generic drug case: SC rejects Roche plea against Natco pharma

The Supreme Court upheld Delhi HC's interim order allowing Natco Pharma to manufacture and sell a generic version of Roche's spinal muscular atrophy drug Risdiplam

Auto dealers move Supreme Court over ₹2,500 crore compensation cess

While the industry body has reiterated its support for the reform, it said the move was aimed at ensuring fairness for thousands of MSME auto dealers impacted by the transition

Await Presidential Reference before challenging Guv's referral: SC to TN

The Supreme Court on Friday told the Tamil Nadu government to await the outcome of the Presidential Reference to decide its plea challenging Governor R N Ravi's decision to refer the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to the President instead of granting his assent. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran said the matter will be heard after the Constitution bench judgement on the issue. "You will have to wait for the outcome of the Presidential Reference.You will have to wait hardly for four weeks.The reference has to be decided before November 21 (Gavai's retirement)," the bench said. The apex court on September 11 reserved its judgement on the presidential reference, which asked if a Constitutional court can impose timelines for governors and President to assent to bills passed by state legislatures. During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, submitted that the Governor cannot refer the bill to the President after

SC’s big decision on firecrackers | Green crackers allowed in Delhi-NCR what the court said

In a big festive relief ahead of Diwali, the Supreme Court has eased its ban on firecrackers, but with a green twist. Watch the video to find out what the apex court said.

SC flags rising digital arrest scams: What they are and how to stay safe

The court took notice of such frauds after a senior citizen couple from Haryana reported losing ₹1.5 crore between September 1 and 16

Air India crash: Deceased pilot's father, union move SC seeking probe

The petition claims that the ongoing probe is "incomplete, biased, and technically unsound"

AG allows contempt action against lawyer for throwing shoe at CJI Gavai

Attorney General R Venkataramani grants consent for criminal contempt proceedings against advocate Rakesh Kishore, who threw a shoe at CJI B R Gavai inside the Supreme Court

Air India pilot's father moves SC for judicial inquiry into Ahmedabad crash

Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of deceased Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, and the Federation of Indian Pilots have moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored inquiry headed by a former apex court judge into the on June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people. On September 22, the top court said certain aspects of the AAIB preliminary report on the crash indicated lapses on the part of pilots, and had issued notices to the Centre and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on another plea seeking an independent, fair and expeditious probe. Pushkaraj Sabharwal, 91, has sought a fair, transparent and technically robust investigation into the tragic incident. An incomplete and prejudiced inquiry, without identification of the exact cause of the accident, endangers the lives of future passengers and undermines aviation safety at large, causing a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, the plea said. The petition, filed through AP&J Chambers on ..

SC dismisses Telangana's plea against HC order on quota to Backward Classes

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Telangana government's plea challenging a high court order which stayed a government order providing 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes in local bodies. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the state's plea against the October 9 order of the Telangana High Court. The high court had issued an interim stay against the government order. The high court, which was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the state government's order that increased the Backward Classes quota, had directed the state to file its reply in four weeks. Some of the petitioners before the high court challenged the September 26, 2025, government order, saying the 42 per cent quota to Backward Classes raises total reservation in local bodies to 67 per cent. It breaches the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations laid down by the court in its verdicts, they claimed.

Expect EC to rectify typographical errors, other mistakes in Bihar roll: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it expects the Election Commission to look into typographical errors and other mistakes in the final Bihar electoral roll prepared after the Special Intensive Revision exercise as a responsible authority and come out with remedial measures. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said it will hear on November 4 the legal issues pertaining to the Bihar SIR exercise. The poll panel said that since its publication of the final electoral roll on September 30, not a single appeal has been filed by any voter against name deletion. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO 'Association of Democratic Reforms, said details of a voter claiming his name was not added in the final list, which was alleged by the EC as fake on the October 7 hearing in the matter, were true. He said that EC should disclose how many voters were deleted and for what revision to ensure transparency in the exercise. The bench noted that the electoral roll will be

SC to hear PIL seeking ban on online gambling masquerading as e-sports

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday a PIL filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) seeking directions to the Centre to prohibit online gambling and betting platforms that allegedly operate under the guise of social and e-sports games. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of lawyer Virag Gupta, appearing for the CASC, on Thursday and agreed to hear the PIL on October 17. The plea has sought a direction to union ministries of Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Finance and Youth Affairs and Sports to do a harmonious interpretation of provisions of Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 and laws made by State Legislatures, to prohibit online gambling and betting games operating in the guise of social and e-sports games. The petition, filed on October 13 through advocates Virag Gupta and Rupali Panwar, names six respondents, including four union

AG approves contempt proceedings against lawyer who threw shoe at CJI Gavai

Attorney General for India R Venkataramani has approved criminal contempt proceedings against lawyer Rakesh Kishore. The case is listed after Diwali

Execution of Indian nurse on Yemen death row has been stayed: SC told

The Supreme Court was on Thursday informed that execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen for murder, was stayed and nothing adverse was happening. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a new mediator has stepped into the matter. "What has happened to the execution?" the bench asked. The counsel appearing for petitioner organisation 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council', which is extending legal support to Priya, said the execution was stayed as of now. "There is a new mediator who has stepped into the picture," Venkataramani said, adding, "The only good thing is, nothing adverse is happening". The petitioner's counsel said the matter may be adjourned. "List in January 2026. It will be open for the parties to apply for early listing in case the situation so demands," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea seeking direction to the Centre to use diplo

Goregaon-Mulund project: SC to hear BMC plea for nod to fell more trees

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to consider listing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's plea seeking a nod to fell more trees for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project subject to compensatory afforestation. The top court had permitted the civic body's tree authority to allow felling of 95 trees for the project on August 14. On Thursday, the BMC counsel informed the bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran that more trees are needed to be felled and this aspect be considered at the earliest, subject to compensatory afforestation. The bench agreed to consider listing the plea for hearing. The GMLR project aims at developing road connectivity from Western Express Highway to Eastern Express Highway to reduce travel time by almost an hour between Mulund and Goregaon. The BMC, which is responsible for the ambitious project, sought the apex court's permission to cut the trees for the first phase of development. The civic body had earlier ass

SC allows sale, bursting of green crackers for Diwali in Delhi-NCR

District authorities will identify and notify designated sale locations, and only licensed vendors will be permitted to operate

SC issues notices on plea for lawyer access during police interrogation

The petition sought directives to recognise the presence of a lawyer during questioning as an inalienable and non-discretionary right, calling for framing of guidelines guaranteeing access to the same